Foot scraper and cleaner for automobile running-boards.



W. A. R008.

FOOT SCRAPER AND CLEANER FOR AUTOMOBLE RUNNING BUAHDS. APPLICMmN HLED MAR. 22. w15.

1 ,21 2,1 1 1 Pntented Jan. 9. 1917 i f. 1"! l L7 I 5 1J l WITIVESSE;` INVENTOR TAE 006.

gw, TRNEYS WILLIAM AUGUST ROOS, NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOOT SCRAPER AND CLEANER FOR AUTOMOBILE RUNNING-BOARDS.

1,2I2,Il1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. t), 1917.

Application led March 22, 1916. Serial No. 85,894.

Zie all 'ir/rom 'it may concer/i.'

ll'e it lniown that l. Wiraaan A. Roos, a citizen of the l'uited States, and a. resident of the city oi' N ew York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New f-York, have invented a new and ln'iproved Foot Scraper and Cleaner for Automobile Running-Boards, ot' which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to foot cleaning devices especially adapted for automobile running-boards, whereby the tracking of dirt into the car can be avoided by the use of the device. The invention has for its general objects to improve and simplify the construction of foot cleaning devices of the character re- :ferred to, so as to be reliable and eliicieut in use, comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and so designed that it can be used as an attachementv for cars already in use, or can be built into the car body.

A more Specific object of the invention is the provision of a combined brush and scraper hingedly mounted on or adjacent the running-board, so that when it is desired for use it can be dropped down to horizontal position on top of the runningboard, so that the shoes can be scraped and cleaned before stepping into the car, and when the device is no longer used it is thrown up to vertical position, close to the car body, or into a pocket therein, so as to be out of the way.

With' such objects in view, and other which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises various novel vfeatures of construction and arrangement of arts which will be' Set forth with particuarity in the/[following description `and claims appended hereto.

In theccompanying drawing which illustrates ne embodiment of the invention and wherein Similar characters ot' reference in- 22e/ate corresponding parts in all the views, f igurc lis a perspective view o a portion 'i of an automobile, showing the'cleaning debeing vice in position for use on the runningboard; Fig. 2 is a sectional. view of the running-board and adjacent part of thc car body with the cleaning device shown in operative position by full lines and inoperative position by dotted lines, the car body modified to receive the device when not 1n, use; Fig. 3 is a, sectional view on the line 3--3, Fig. 2, showing the cleaning dcvice in plan; and Fig. l is an upper sectional view on the line l---l, Fig. 2, when the brush is not in use.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the running-board ol' an automobile, to which is applied the l'oot Jeaniner device A. Thisv dei im comprises a brush 2 anda scraper 5 and combined bracketsl and lot-lis -l which fusti-n th(` brush and scraper to the running-board l. 'l`labrush comprises a back 5 and suitable bristles (5. and fastened to the sides of the bat-lt is a metal frame composed of side members 7 and a cross member S. This cross member is spaced somewhat from the adjacent edge of the brush so thatv the member S can be used as a scraper. The bark 5 reinforced by a metal plate 9 which has two of its opposite edges bent into flanges 10 that interlock with lthe back 5. Extending;l across the brush and lying under the flanges are rods 11 and 12 which pass through the side members 7 of the reinforcing marginal frame. rlhe rod 12 is in the form of a bolt, the ends of which pass through lhe brackets l to pivotally mount the combined brush and scraper on the running` board. The brackets are tastened to the runuingpboard in opstanding position and located. close to the body B of the automobile` so that when the cleaning device is not in use itl can occupy ay vertical position close to the body.

If desired, the body may ha'\e a pocket` b, as shown in Fie, 2. for accommodating the rleaning: device. Preferably the .si-raping: bar H extends outwardly bevond the edge of the running-lmard to permit the scrapinigs to readily drop vll-ar of thc. latter. and also to enable the bar s to be easily cnet-leed by the hand or l'ool l'or throwing,r the cleaning device upright to inoperative position after being.;r used. .\s shown in Fig. 4, the brackets have upward .extensions l which form springs, and each spring' has a lug l adapted to engage in an opening,t or depression lb in the brush, so that the brackets form yieldingr locks l'or retaining the cleaningr device in upright position.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying,r drawing, the advantages of the construction and method ol operation will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention' appertains, and while I ,have described the principle of operation together with thc device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patenti l. The combination of an automobile body having a pocket in its side,a running-board under the pocket, and a foot cleaner moun'ted to swing in and out of the pocket and to rest on the running-board when in operative position.

2. The combination of an automobile running-board, with a foot cleaner -movably mounted on the running board to rest thereon when in use and foldable to position close to the body when not in use, said cleaning device com Jrisin a 'brush and a sera )er fastened to the brush and adapted to extend beyond the outer edge of the running-board. 3. vThe combination of an automobile ,body having a pocket iriits side, a runningtomobile, the brackets having upwardly ex y tending spring locking members, a cleaning device p-ivoted on the brackets to swing outwardly from a Vertical to horizontal osition, and means on the members and c eaning device adapted to interlock when the latter is in upright position.

5. The combination of a vehicle body including a running-board or step, a foot' cleaning device hingedly mounted to normally lie in an upright position close to the body and movable to an approximately horizontal position Where the device rests on the running-board or step, said device ncluding a brush, and a scraping bar mount'- ed on the brush and adapted to extend be yond the outer edge of the running-board or step when the cleaning device is in use.

6. A cleaning device of the class described comprising a brush back having bristles, a frame fastened to two opposite edges of the back and having a connectin bar portion spaced from another edge o the back to form a foot scraper, a plate covering one face of the back, and the edges of the plate being bent into flanges embracing the edges of the back other than those to which the frame is applied, rodsA assing through the frame and under the anges to fasten the back `to the frame, and hinge brackets through which one of the bars extends to form a pivot.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name tothis specification' in the presence of two Subscribing witnesses` WILLIAM AUGUST ROOS.

Witnesses EDWARD AsHroR'rH, HERBERT A. TREAT. 

